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Bacardi Brings 1,800 Guests to Central Park for Annual Holiday Party

Bacardi 2010 Industry Holiday Party

NEW YORK
To show gratitude for the work of its brand ambassadors, field marketing managers, corporate team members, and agency representatives, Bacardi threw a big holiday party at Central Park's Trump Wollman Skating Rink on Tuesday, replete with playfully kitschy Christmas trappings, plenty of cocktails, and free skating. About 1,800 guests showed up for the event planned by Bacardi's in-house field marketing team, filling the indoor space, patio, and rink from 6 p.m. to midnight.

“The party was a thank you to Bacardi's bartenders, general managers, owners of accounts, and retail stores that we work with every day to build our brands and our business,” said Christine Squillante, Bacardi USA's field marketing manager. “We've held holiday events before, but we wanted this year's to be extra special and really raise the bar.”

With that in mind, the spirits company littered the space with activities and entertainment, including a branded photo booth, 15 girls clad in skimpy Santa suits, two dancing stiltwalkers, and an area where guests could pose with entertainers dressed as Santa and his elves. As an added take-home gift for revelers, Bacardi also gave out free cocktail shakers and had an engraver on site to etch complimentary messages. And despite the freezing temperatures, many attendees donned skates and took to the ice for a spin around the rink.

Naturally, Bacardi created several of cocktails using brands from its portfolio, from hot chocolate spiked with Bacardi Rock Coconut rum to a “cranberry sparkler” made with Grey Goose and a Pomerita using Cazadores Reposado tequila. There were also plenty of passed hors d'oeuvres, including mini sliders and sushi, which were quickly snatched up.